Airport Management Suggests Closing Runway 16/34 Instead of Repairing It

Salem-Willamette Valley Airport (SLE) managers have proposed shutting down their secondary runway instead of repairing it, earning them quite a bit of pushback from the community. City officials have noted that, without federal funding backing it, the project would cost more than it would contribute.

The city’s main issue is that SLE’s runway 16/34, listed as the secondary runway, is not eligible for FAA funding under the AIP program. It also doesn’t help that the airport began commercial air service in October 2023, bringing in new operating costs that it wasn’t prepared to tackle and forcing it to begin pulling from the city’s general fund.

“We’ve already gotten a lot of heat for investing in commercial air service… and that is a pittance compared to what it would cost to maintain this runway. This is not even a question for me,” claimed City Councilor Vannessa Nordyke.

One of the arguments is that runway 16/34 is unnecessary, with a third party consultant claiming that surface winds favor the primary runway (13/31) 95 percent of the time. They also stated that 16/34 is expected to be unusable by 2035 due to typical degradation. Making repairs could cost up to $12 million, which is on top of the standard annual maintenance costs of around $25,000.

“I don’t think northeast Salem wants us to spend 10 million dollars to save this runway,” Nordyke continued. “We can’t afford to maintain this runway. I look at the math. Nope. I would not vote to dedicate general fund dollars to save this runway. It is too expensive.”

Members of the community, specifically those in general aviation, were quick to spot holes in the city’s claims. They pointed out that there are numerous federal and state grant opportunities out there that have been utilized by airports in similar situations to fill AIP program gaps. Pilots also debunked the wind conditions statements, showing that winds are better suited to 16/34 for around 70 percent of traffic.

Officials are slated to make their formal suggestion at an April meeting and a final decision in the fall. If the runway and associated taxiways are closed, it will likely be torn out and redeveloped into commercial and industrial sites.

FMI: www.cityofsalem.net